When Heather Tarr took the helm of Washington’s softball team in 2005, the program was a little more than 10 years old. The Huskies’ traditions and history were still taking shape.
As Tarr has evolved as a coach, Washington has expanded its foundation. But during that first season, Tarr picked up a tradition that has been woven into the fabric of the program. At the softball coach’s convention that year, she found an idea that continues to deepen the bond between the program’s past and present.
Tarr first heard the idea from Michigan’s Carol Hutchins when the Wolverines were the reigning national champions. For the Huskies, it has become the program’s Number Project.
“It’s really important in my philosophy – or in any sort of leadership philosophy – that you know what was there before you got there out of respect for the land that was there or the people that were there,” Tarr said. “I take a lot of pride in that personally, but it definitely comes through in that activity for our team.”
The idea is simple: Players can choose their numbers at Washington, but there is a caveat. Each athlete must understand the history behind that number and then contact at least one of the alums who previously wore the number.
“They know they’re not the only one to wear it,” Tarr said. “When they say, ‘Oh, I want to wear this number.’ Well, it’s not really your number. You’re renting it. You get to pay rent on that jersey and, when you’re done, you know somebody else is investing their time and energy into researching who wore it before them.”